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Russia Posts Smallest Trade Surplus in Over 2 Years
Russia recorded a trade surplus of $8.6 billion in November of 2025, narrowing from the $12.3 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year to mark the lowest trade surplus since July of 2023. It was the second-lowest surplus since February of 2022, when the Russian invasion of Ukraine resulted in shocks in global commodity markets and sweeping sanctions against the Russian economy. Exports contracted by 16.2% from the previous year to $32.9 billion, the sharpest decline in nearly two years, due to lower crude oil prices and the gradual shun of cargoes by Indian refiners following the US sanctions on Lukoil and Rosneft. In turn, imports fell by 3.1% to $26.1 billion, a fourth straight decline despite the strength in the ruble, as a weakening domestic economy limited demand for goods.
Published on 2026-01-23

Russia Trade Surplus Widens in October
Russia’s trade surplus widened to $11.143 billion in October 2025 from $9.085 billion a year earlier, driven by a sharper drop in imports than exports. Imports fell 11.8% YoY to $25 billion, as weaker domestic demand from Russian consumers and businesses reduced purchases of foreign goods, even with a stronger ruble. Exports declined 3.4% to $38.1 billion, pressured by lower oil prices and softer commodity demand from China, a key trading partner. Sanctions and limited access to Western markets continued to constrain trade flows, while the imbalance reflects the country’s struggling economy, which is curbing imports more than it affects export revenue.
Published on 2025-12-12

Russian Trade Surplus Rises to 18-Month High
Russia recorded a trade surplus of $13.6 billion in September of 2025, widening from the $11.9 billion surplus in the corresponding period of the previous year, and the widest in over one year as Russia's weakening economy drove imports to contract more than exports. Imports sank by 7.2% annually to $25 billion, as weaker Russian consumers and business pared their demand for foreign goods, despite the stronger ruble. In the meantime, exports contracted by 4.1% to $38.1 billion. Lower oil prices and softer commodity demand from Russia's key trading partner, China, pared buying from Russia's key industries that are shunned from commerce with the West.
Published on 2025-11-14

Russian Trade Surplus Rises to 18-Month High
Russia recorded a trade surplus of $13.6 billion in September of 2025, widening from the $11.9 billion surplus in the corresponding period of the previous year, and the wisest in over one year as Russia's weakening economy drove imports to contract more than exports. Imports sank by 7.2% annually to $25 billion, as weaker Russian consumers and business pared their demand for foreign goods, despite the stronger ruble. In the meantime, exports contracted by 4.1% to $38.1 billion. Lower oil prices and softer commodity demand from Russia's key trading partner, China, pared buying from Russia's key industries that are shunned from commerce with the West.
Published on 2025-11-14

Russian Trade Surplus Narrows in August
Russia’s trade surplus narrowed to $7.47 billion in August 2025, down from $8.65 billion a year earlier. Exports fell 8.9% year-on-year to $31.53 billion, the lowest level since January, mainly due to weaker demand from China, which cut its crude oil purchases during the month. Imports also dropped by 7.3% to $24.06 billion, reflecting subdued domestic demand and the impact of Western sanctions that continue to limit access to foreign goods and technology.
Published on 2025-10-13

Russia Trade Surplus Widens in July
Russia recorded a trade surplus of $13.2 billion inn July of 2025, widening from the $10.2 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year, the first widening of the trade balance since February. Exports expanded by 6.7% from the previous year to $38.0 billion, the highest since March of last year, amid higher exports of crude oil. In turn, imports contracted by 2.5% to $24.9 billion.
Published on 2025-09-11

Russian Trade Surplus Narrows
Russia recorded a trade surplus of $9.3 billion in June of 2025, narrowing from the $11.8 billion surplus in the corresponding period of the previous year. Exports contracted by 8% annually to $32.8 billion in the period, the lowest since 2020, to mark a fifth consecutive month of decline in foreign sales as lower oil prices and softer commodity demand from Russia's key trading partner, China, pared buying from Russia's key industries that are shunned from commerce with the West. In turn, imports contracted by 1.3% to $23.6 billion, a second consecutive decline.
Published on 2025-08-11

Russian Trade Surplus Narrows
Russia recorded a trade surplus of $9.3 billion in June of 2025, narrowing from the $11.8 billion surplus in the corresponding period of the previous year. Exports contracted by 8% annually to $32.8 billion in the period, the lowest since 2020, to mark a fifth consecutive month of decline in foreign sales as lower oil prices and softer commodity demand from Russia's key trading partner, China, pared buying from Russia's key industries that are shunned from commerce with the West. In turn, imports contracted by 1.3% to $23.6 billion, a second consecutive decline.
Published on 2025-08-11

Russia Trade Flows Shrink
Russia recorded a trade surplus of $8.7 billion in May of 2025, narrowing from the $12.1 billion surplus in the corresponding period of the previous year. Exports slumped by 9.7% from the previous year to $33.1 billion, the fourth consecutive month of lower foreign sales as lower oil prices and softer commodity demand from Russia's key trading partner, China, pared buying from Russia's key industries that are shunned from commerce with the West. In turn, imports dropped by 0.4% to $24.4 billion, halting two straight import expansions.
Published on 2025-07-11

Russia Trade Flows Shrink
Russia recorded a trade surplus of $8.7 billion in May of 2025, narrowing from the $12.1 billion surplus in the corresponding period of the previous year. Exports slumped by 9.7% from the previous year to $33.1 billion, the fourth consecutive month of lower foreign sales as lower oil prices and softer commodity demand from Russia's key trading partner, China, pared buying from Russia's key industries that are shunned from commerce with the West. In turn, imports dropped by 0.4% to $24.4 billion, halting two straight import expansions.
Published on 2025-07-11

Russian Trade Flows Plunge
Russia recorded a trade surplus of $10.5 billion in February of 2025, widening from the $8.9 billion surplus in the corresponding period of the previous year amid an aggressive contraction in Russian trade flows. Exports out of Russia contracted by 2.8% from the previous year to $30.9 billion as a slowdown in commodity imports from China and the higher magnitude of sanctions from G7 economies pressed Russia's foreign sales. In turn, imports sank by 10.2% to $20.4 billion, the lowest since the immediate aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Q2 2022, as the weakening domestic economy limited demand for goods.
Published on 2025-04-11

Russian Trade Surplus Narrows
Russia recorded a trade surplus of $7.16 billion in January of 2025, narrowing slightly from the $7.17 in the corresponding period of the previous year to mark the month's lowest trade balance since 2005. Imports rose by 3.2% annually to $22.09 billion in the period, as a stronger ruble and improving supply chains since the start of western sanctions improved the availability of foreign goods for Russians. In the meantime, exports rose by a softer 2.5% to $29.24 billion amid slowing demand for energy from China, which has been the main target for heavyweight commodity exports for Russia since Western sanctions from 2022.
Published on 2025-03-14

Russia Trade Surplus Sinks to Over 4-Year Low
Russia recorded a trade surplus of $5.6 billion in December of 2024, narrowing sharply from the $10.9 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year to mark the lowest trade balance since August of 2020, and the lowest for the month since 2002. Exports slumped by 19.2% annually to $31.3 billion, pressured by slowing demand for energy from China, which has been the main target for heavyweight commodity exports for Russia since Western sanctions from 2022. In the meantime, imports fell by a softer 7.5% to $25.7 billion in the period, the first contraction in five months, as a plunging ruble and weaker economy dampened the purchasing power of Russian households and businesses.
Published on 2025-02-11

Russia Trade Surplus Sinks to Over 5-Year Low
Russia recorded a trade surplus of $6 billion in November of 2024, narrowing sharply from the $9.6 billion surplus in the corresponding period of the previous year to mark the lowest trade balance since August 2019. Exports contracted by 5.5% annually to $32 billion in the month, pressured by slowing demand for energy from China, which has been the main target for heavyweight commodity exports for Russia since Western sanctions from 2022. Conversely, imports jumped by 6.9% annually to $25.9 billion, as poor supply chains domestically due to sanctions and a labor force crisis increased Russia’s dependability on foreign goods.
Published on 2025-01-20

Russian Trade Surplus Narrows
Russia’s trade surplus narrowed to $9.1 billion in October of 2024 from $9.6 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year. Imports surged by 17.4% from the previous year to $27.5 billion, the sharpest pace of growth since July of 2023. In turn, exports edged higher by 6.5% annually to $36.6 billion, refraining from picking up the same pace of imports. This was due to the decline in foreign demand for key energy commodities that make up a large portion of Russian exports as Western countries consolidate sanction, and a slowing Chinese economy purchases less energy and metals.
Published on 2024-12-12

Russian Trade Surplus Narrows
Russia’s trade surplus narrowed to $12.6 billion in September of 2024 from $15.5 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year. Exports sank by 2.9% annually to $39.1 billion, aligned with the sharp decline in foreign demand for key energy commodities that make up a large portion of Russian exports as Western countries consolidate sanctions and a slowing Chinese economy purchases less energy and metals. In turn, imports rose by 6.7% to $26.5 billion, as the capacity crisis that Russia faces drives consumers to rely on foreign goods.
Published on 2024-11-12

Russian Trade Surplus Narrows Sharply
Russia’s trade surplus narrowed to $9.3 billion in August of 2024 from $11.7 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year, marking the narrowest trade surplus since 2017, when excluding the energy crisis caused by the pandemic in 2020. Exports sank by 7.1% annually to $34.5 billion, aligned with the sharp decline in foreign demand for key energy commodities that make up a large portion of Russian exports. Oil exports to China, Russia's largest trading partner for energy since Western sanctions shunned EU clients, collapsed by 55% according to ship tracking data collected by third-party sources, which resulted in a 28% plunge in oil and gas revenues for the Russian federal budget in the period. In the meantime, imports eased by a softer 0.9% to $25.2 billion, aligned with a weaker ruble in the period and its impact on import demand.
Published on 2024-10-14

Russia Trade Surplus Widens in June
Russia's trade surplus rose to USD 11.5 billion in June 2024 from USD 9 billion in the corresponding month of the previous year and above market forecasts of USD 10.5 billion. Exports increased by 2.5% over a year to USD 35.3 billion while imports declined by 6.2% to USD 23.8 billion.
Published on 2024-08-12

Russia Trade Surplus Increases in April
Russia's trade surplus expanded to USD 10.66 billion in April 2024 from USD 6.77 billion in the corresponding month of the previous year, as exports increased and imports fell. Exports rose by 5 percent to USD 33.2 billion from USD 31.6 billion in April 2023, boosted by higher oil & gas prices. Meanwhile, imports plunged by 9.3 percent to USD 22.5 billion from USD 24.8 billion, affected by tight monetary policy by the central lender.
Published on 2024-06-13

Russia Trade Surplus Largest Since December 2022
Russia's trade surplus expanded to USD 18.81 billion in March 2024 from USD 12.95 billion in the corresponding month of the previous year, as exports increased and imports fell. It was the largest surplus since December 2022 and well above the consensus of USD 12.25 billion. Exports rose by 2 percent to USD 41.7 billion from USD 40.9 billion in March 2023, boosted by higher oil & gas prices. Meanwhile, imports plunged by 18.1 percent to USD 22.9 billion from USD 28 billion, affected by tight monetary policy by the central lender.
Published on 2024-05-15